Substrate mounting clip

ABSTRACT

A substrate mounting clip includes a plate having a first side and a second side. A first arm extends from the first side of the plate. The first arm includes a first projection shaped and dimensioned to secure the plate to a first substrate. A second arm extends from the second side of the plate. The second arm includes a second projection shaped and dimensioned to secure the plate to a second substrate proximate to the first substrate. An aperture is formed in the plate between the first arm and the second arm.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a substrate mounting clip, and moreparticularly, to a substrate mounting clip including an aperture.

BACKGROUND

Building materials may be secured to an underlying structure, such as asub-floor or framing in a plurality of sections, thus creating jointsbetween edges of proximate or adjacent building materials. As anexample, mounting building materials such as, drywall, plasterboard,wallboard, sheet rock, Gyprock®, gypsum board, gypsum panel, plywood orother such materials on an underlying building structure can prove to bedifficult and weak if not properly spaced across the underlyingstructure. For example, edges of adjacent or proximate sheets of drywallmay each overhang a single underlying stud of relatively narrow width.Thus, an amount of surface area of the adjacent or proximate edges ofthe drywall contacting the underlying stud may be somewhat limited,particularly when the adjacent or proximate edges are not directlycentered on the underlying stud.

As an example, edges or butt ends of drywall or plywood tend to bulgeout after a few years of installation, thus creating an unsightly lookin finished surface as well as a weak connection. Wind may be a constantissue of tearing plywood off buildings due to a small surface areacontacting underlying framing.

Thus, it may be desirable to increase the strength with which a buildingmaterial is secured to an underlying structure.

SUMMARY

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a substrate mountingclip includes a plate having a first side and a second side. A first armextends from the first side of the plate. The first arm includes a firstprojection shaped and dimensioned to secure the plate to a firstsubstrate. A second arm extends from the second side of the plate. Thesecond arm includes a second projection shaped and dimensioned to securethe plate to a second substrate proximate to the first substrate. Anaperture is formed in the plate between the first arm and the secondarm.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first substrate orthe second substrate may be drywall, plasterboard, wallboard, gypsumboard or plywood.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first side of theplate may be spaced apart from the second side of the plate. Theaperture may be formed in a substantially central region of the plate.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the mounting clip mayinclude an indentation formed in the plate around the aperture. Theindentation is shaped and dimensioned to counter sink a screw head or anail head.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the substrate mountingclip may include a coating configured to prevent the substrate mountingclip from rusting. The coating may include phosphate or zinc.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the first projectionor the second projection may extend along a direction parallel to adepth direction of the aperture formed in the plate.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the first arm mayinclude at least two pointed projections including pointed teethextending along the direction parallel to the depth direction of theaperture formed in the plate. The second arm may include at least twoprojections including pointed teeth extending along the directionparallel to the depth direction of the aperture formed in the plate.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a first surface of theplate, a first surface of the first arm and a first surface of thesecond arm form may be substantially co-planar with each other. A secondsurface of the plate, a second surface of the first arm and a secondsurface of the second arm are substantially co-planer with each other.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the plate may have asubstantially rectangular shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a substrate mounting clipaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a substrate mounting clip accordingto aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a substrate mounting clip according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a substrate mounting clip according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a substrate mounting clip according to aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a substrate mounting clip mounted on proximatesubstrates according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.are used herein to distinguish one element from another, and theelements are not limited by these terms. Thus, a “first” element in anexemplary embodiment may be described as a “second” element in anotherexemplary embodiment.

As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood toinclude relative configurations that are substantially parallel andsubstantially perpendicular up to about + or −10 degrees from trueparallel and true perpendicular.

“About” or “approximately” as used herein may be inclusive of the statedvalue and means within an acceptable range of variation for the value asdetermined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering themeasurement in question and the error associated with measurement of theparticular quantity (e.g., the limitations of the measurement system).For example, “about” may mean within one or more standard variations, orwithin ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

Descriptions of technical features or aspects of an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure should typically be considered as availableand applicable to other similar features or aspects in another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. Accordingly, technical featuresdescribed herein according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be applicable to other exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, and thus duplicative descriptions may be omittedherein.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described morefully below (e.g., with reference to the accompanying drawings). Likereference numerals may refer to like elements throughout thespecification and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a substrate mounting clipaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2is a rear perspective view of a substrate mounting clip according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a side view ofa substrate mounting clip according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 4 is a top view of a substrate mounting clipaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5is a plan view of a substrate mounting clip according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a rear view of asubstrate mounting clip mounted on proximate substrates according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a substrate mounting clip includes a plate 101having a first side and a second side. A first arm 102 extends from thefirst side of the plate 101. The first arm 102 includes a firstprojection (e.g., the first projection may include one or both ofprojections 111 and/or 112) shaped and dimensioned to secure the plate101 to a first substrate (e.g. substrate 602). A second arm 103 extendsfrom the second side of the plate 101. The second arm 103 includes asecond projection (e.g., the second projection may include one or bothof projections 113 and/or 114) shaped and dimensioned to secure theplate 101 to a second substrate (e.g., substrate 603) proximate to thefirst substrate. An aperture 120 is formed in the plate 101 between thefirst arm 102 and the second arm 103.

As an example, the first side of the plate 101 may be opposite thesecond side of the plate 101 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2); however,exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.For example, the first side and the second side may refer to sides thatare immediately adjacent to each other, or sides that extend alongplanes that are rotated about ninety degrees from each other.

As an example, the first and second substrates may include edges thatare immediately adjacent to each other with an underlying supportstructure below each of the edges. The aperture 120 may be substantiallyaligned with a central region of the underlying support structure. Thus,driving a screw through the aperture 120 may secure the substratemounting clip, along with the first and second substrates, to theunderlying support structure. This may prevent edges from either of thesubstrates from breaking or cracking. As an example, in the case ofdrywall, preventing the edges from cracking may prevent unsightly bulgesfrom forming and may reduce a number of coats of spackle used forfilling a seam between the adjacent substrates. Thus, manufacturingcosts may be reduced, while reducing an amount of time for securingadjacent substrates to an underlying support structure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst substrate or the second substrate may be drywall, plasterboard,wallboard, sheet rock, Gyprock®, gypsum board, gypsum panel, plywood, orany other type of interior or exterior sheeting material. Thus, thesubstrate mounting clip described herein may be employed to secureadjacent sheets of drywall to an underlying support stud, while reducingbuilding time of a wall and also reducing building costs. Additionally,the presence of a visible seam between adjacent sheets of drywall may bereduced or eliminated by more securely adhering the drywall to theunderlying support stud.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst side of the plate 101 may be spaced apart from the second side ofthe plate 101. The aperture 120 may be formed in a substantially centralregion of the plate 101.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, themounting clip may include an indentation 121 formed in the plate 101around the aperture 120. The indentation 121 is shaped and dimensionedto counter sink a screw head (see, e.g., screw head 601 in FIG. 6) or anail head. While the aperture 120 and/or indentation 121 may besubstantially circular, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosureare not limited thereto. For example, the aperture 120 and/orindentation 121 may have other shapes, which may be used to accommodatedifferent fastener shapes, such as screws having various shaped screwheads.

The aperture 120 may extend entirely through the plate 101.Alternatively, the aperture 120 might include a relatively thin screwsecuring flap configured to hold a screw in position in the aperture120. For example, the screw securing flap may be relatively easilypierced by pressure applied by a screw tip and the screw may be held inposition in the aperture 120 by the screw securing flap before the screwis driven into the underlying support structure.

As an example, the screw head may be substantially flush with a surfaceof the plate 101 facing away from the underlying substrates. Further,the surface of the plate 101 facing away from the underlying substratesmay be substantially flush with surfaces of the underlying substratesfacing the plate 101. Thus, plastering or spackling over the substratemounting clip may be performed in a relatively short amount of time.Further, cracks in the plaster or spackle may be prevented fromoccurring because the substrates are securely fastened to an underlyingsupport structure by the substrate mounting clip. Additionally, thesubstrate mounting clips may be spaced further apart from each otherthan drywall screws would be in a conventional drywall installationprocess.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thesubstrate mounting clip may include a coating configured to prevent thesubstrate mounting clip from rusting. The coating may include phosphateor zinc. However, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure arenot limited thereto, and any desired material for preventing themounting clip from rusting may be employed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst projection (e.g., 111 and/or 112) or the second projection (e.g.,113 and/or 114) may extend along a direction parallel to a depthdirection of the aperture 120 formed in the plate 101.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst arm 102 may include at least two pointed projections includingpointed teeth extending along the direction parallel to the depthdirection of the aperture 120 formed in the plate 101. The second arm103 may include at least two projections including pointed teethextending along the direction parallel to the depth direction of theaperture 120 formed in the plate 101.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a firstsurface of the plate 101, a first surface of the first arm 102 and afirst surface of the second arm 103 may be substantially co-planar witheach other. A second surface of the plate 101, a second surface of thefirst arm 102 and a second surface of the second arm 103 may besubstantially co-planer with each other. For example, the first surfacemay refer to a front surface of the substrate mounting clip and thesecond surface may refer to a rear surface of the substrate mountingclip. Thus, the substrate mounting clip may have a rear surface that issubstantially flush with an underlying substrate (e.g., when thesubstrate mounting clip is hammered into a surface of drywallsubstrates). The screw head (e.g., 601) may be substantially flush withthe rear surface of the substrate mounting clip. Thus, as an example,sheets of underlying drywall, the substrate mounting clip and a screwhead of a screw secured through the aperture 120 to an underlyingsupport structure may be substantially co-planar with each other, thuscreating a substantially flat and continuous surface.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theplate 101 may have a substantially rectangular shape. However, exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and theshape of the plate 101 and/or of the substrate mounting clip may bemodified, as desired.

As an example, the substrate mounting clip may be formed of a metal,such as stainless steel. The substrate mounting clip may be hardened andtempered. As described herein, the metal may be coated to preventrusting. Additionally, the substrate mounting clip may be coated with amaterial configured to increase bonding strength between the substratemounting clip and spackle or joint compound.

As an example, the substrate mounting clip may be a metal fasteningdevice with four small teeth and a hole substantially in the center usedto join the butt ends of two substrates such as drywall or plywood tothe underlying structure.

Typically, when fastening drywall to the underlying structure the sheetsof drywall are screwed and or nailed every 12 to 16 inches and the buttends are positioned substantially equal to half lap the underlyingstructure then screwed and or nailed every 8 inches. When securingplywood to the underlying structure such as roof rafter of studs theplywood sheet may be nailed every 12 to 16 inches and the butt ends maybe positioned substantially equal to half lap the underlying structureand nailed every 8 inches.

As an example, drywall butt ends may overlap a 2×4 stud leaving ¾ of aninch for each end of adjacent sheets of drywall to be secured through,thus leaving relatively little room for error and screw surface. Thismay cause the drywall to tear and break on the edges; particularly ifthe edges of adjacent drywall sheets are not well centered on anunderlying support stud or if the underlying support stud is secure atan angle with respect to the edges of the drywall sheets. This may causedrywall joints to “pop” or separate from the underlying support stud,thus creating unsightly unevenness in the finished drywall. In referenceto other substrate such as plywood an area such as a roof of a buildingstructure is very susceptible to wind damage (e.g., during storms).Thus, the substrate mounting clip described herein may increase thestrength of an attachment between a substrate such as drywall or plywoodto an underlying support structure such as a support stud or roofrafter.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, exemplary dimensions are illustratedin inches. However, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure arenot limited thereto, and the dimensions of the substrate mounting clipdescribed herein may be modified, as desired.

Having described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it isfurther noted that it is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A substrate mounting clip, comprising: a plateincluding a first side and a second side; a first arm extends from thefirst side of the plate, wherein the first arm includes a firstprojection shaped and dimensioned to secure the plate to a firstsubstrate; a second arm extends from the second side of the plate,wherein the second arm includes a second projection shaped anddimensioned to secure the plate to a second substrate proximate to thefirst substrate; and an aperture is formed in the plate between thefirst arm and the second arm.
 2. The substrate mounting clip of claim 1,wherein at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate isat least one of drywall, plasterboard, wallboard, gypsum board, orplywood.
 3. The substrate mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the firstside of the plate is spaced apart from the second side of the plate,wherein the aperture is formed in a substantially central region of theplate.
 4. The substrate mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the mountingclip includes an indentation formed in the plate around the aperture,wherein the indentation is shaped and dimensioned to counter sink atleast one of a screw head or a nail head.
 5. The substrate mounting clipof claim 1, wherein the substrate mounting clip includes a coatingconfigured to prevent the substrate mounting clip from rusting, whereinthe coating includes at least one of phosphate or zinc.
 6. The substratemounting clip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first projectionor the second projection extends along a direction parallel to a depthdirection of the aperture formed in the plate.
 7. The substrate mountingclip of claim 1, wherein the first arm includes at least two pointedprojections including pointed teeth extending along the directionparallel to the depth direction of the aperture formed in the plate, andwherein the second arm includes at least two projections includingpointed teeth extending along the direction parallel to the depthdirection of the aperture formed in the plate.
 8. The substrate mountingclip of claim 1, wherein a first surface of the plate, a first surfaceof the first arm, and a first surface of the second arm form issubstantially co-planar with each other, and wherein a second surface ofthe plate, a second surface of the first arm, and a second surface ofthe second arm are substantially co-planer with each other.
 9. Thesubstrate mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the plate includes asubstantially rectangular shape.